October 17, 2013

Panthers begin preparing for busy, five-day stretch

The Panthers' coaching staff will begin doubling up on its
film study as it prepares for two games in a five-day stretch.

The Panthers (2-3) are at home Sunday against St. Louis, then travel to Tampa Bay
for a Thursday night game next week.

Carolina
coach Ron Rivera said some of his assistants will begin watching tape of the
Bucs tonight, a process that will continue Friday and Saturday afternoons.

But Rivera said he doesn't want coordinators Sean McDermott
or Mike Shula thinking about Tampa
Bay until Sunday's game
with the Rams is in the books.

"What you really don't want to do is get into your
thoughts in terms of game-planning because you don't want to mix them up,
especially the coordinators. The coordinators probably won't do anything,"
said Rivera, a former defensive coordinator.

The Panthers were drilled by the Giants 36-7 at home last
season in their only Thursday night game under Rivera.

"In the past when we've had to play a Thursday game, (the)
Sunday after we've played, I've grabbed some tape and taken it home and gotten
a jump, or I came in for a couple hours Sunday night," Rivera said. "It's
a little tough but you've got to do it for a Thursday game."

Comments

I hate these Thursday night games, but the NFL is all about the money. Read yesterday, that the NFL Thursday night games have been flops in the ratings race.

Posted by: Steven | Oct 17, 2013 4:45:32 PM

They should play every day.

Posted by: Timbo | Oct 17, 2013 9:06:50 PM

I don't much like them either.

Posted by: Gut | Oct 17, 2013 10:05:49 PM

They can't concentrate enough on one game let alone two..... don't bite off more than you can chew Rivera. ONE GAME AT A TIME.

Posted by: DirtySanchez | Oct 18, 2013 8:16:23 AM

So he is basically saying "we are looking ahead to next week" How about we worry about the freaking Rams before we worry about the winless Bucs.

Posted by: Chris | Oct 18, 2013 12:48:14 PM

the last thing we need to be doing is preparing ourselves for tampa.

absolutely irrelevant game if we don't beat st. louis. you can't be 2-4 and make the playoffs so why prepare for the game AFTER this one? you might even be better off just giving the players every waking moment off prior to thursday.

they go 2-4, they have to go 7-3 the rest of the way AND get lucky to make playoffs. they go to 3-3 sunday, they can finish 6-4 with luck or 7-3 with less and get in.

another one where rivera shows he doesn't understand prioritizing and probabilities. just like 3rd and 4th down scenarios, clock management, field position, time outs, challenges, etc. etc. etc.

Posted by: charlottean | Oct 18, 2013 1:40:41 PM

you guys have reading comprehension problems. you seriously need to reread and see that he's talking about going to St Louis and not worrying about the other game until its in the books. So many haters in Charlotte.

Posted by: mike | Oct 19, 2013 12:49:06 AM

there are....but rivera hate is warranted.

and he has a horrible habit of making himself a target of the public by making comments in the papers.